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NU Soccer Players Teach Elementary Kids all the Right Angles to Win

By Ariel Cheung | March 2, 2015 5:40am
 Northwestern University soccer players worked with students at The Nettelhorst School to apply math skills to their game Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015.
Nettelhorst Soccer Math
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EAST LAKEVIEW — Students in math class never had it so good.

The Nettelhorst School students teamed up with Northwestern University soccer players late last week to learn sports-based math skills and apply them to the game.

For an hour after school, students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades learned about the geometry behind shooting and passing and how to calculate the volume of a soccer ball or the area of the field.

 

"We're getting kids involved, thinking about math in ways they maybe weren't before," said Lauren Scherer, a math teacher at the middle school. "We really try hard to build connections with our community and make sure they get opportunities to experience things in new ways."

In its fourth year, the annual program is also a way for students to learn about the college experience and get tips on their game. The engaging, physical lesson is ideal for students who might not initially take an interest in math, Scherer said.

"I really like learning when I'm doing action-packed things," said seventh-grade student Maggie Winston, who wants to be a professional soccer player. "It was really cool to not just talk about what angles are best to shoot from, but to actually try out the angles to see how you do."

Maggie worked with Northwestern women's soccer forward Maria Fayeulle, who said she enjoyed playing with the younger students and answering questions for those who play soccer and want to know more about a professional or collegiate career.

"When I was little, you never really got to play sports with the older girls or boys," said Fayeulle, 19, a freshman economics student. "I think it's awesome to get to play with them, because it's such a good learning experience."

The lesson is a perfect example of Nettelhorst's push for interactive, creative ways to learn, Scherer said.

"It's in the Nettelhorst tradition to try to think outside the box and get kids involved in ways you don't normally think of," Scherer said.

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